Politics
Talake, Luka Tussle For PM In Island Nation Polls
Both say they have unfinished business
Of all the 39 candidates who contested Tuvalu's general election late last month, none perhaps was eagerly looking forward to it more than Faimalaga Luka. The veteran politician believes he has unfinished business to attend to like enhancing the life of his people, especially those living outside Funafuti, the country's capital.
Luka was prime minister of the Pacific's tiniest democracy until his ousting from power through a vote-of-no-confidence last December. He was toppled as prime minister while he was out of the country receiving specialized medical treatment in New Zealand.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
"Oh yes, I'm working at getting the support I need to reclaim the job of Prime Minister," Luka told Islands Business from his Funafuti home.
"I don't see any problem in winning the position again. I have some incomplete business, which is to continue with development projects, especially on the islands, out of Funafuti.
"My aim is to have these islands enjoy the same infrastructure as in Funafuti like good wharfs, airstrips, clean water and a reliable shipping service."
Luka didn't mention a smooth sail. Nor did he expect one in his country's July 25 polls. His biggest rival is none other than the man who engineered his removal as prime minister last year - Koloa Talake. Like Luka, caretaker prime minister Talake wants another term as head of government, citing pending business to complete. Widening the country's revenue base and sea level rise are on his priority list.
"My main goal would be to improve the quality of life of the people of Tuvalu," Talake tells Islands Business.
"Tuvalu's revenue base should be widened by ensuring that Tuvalu gets a fair and equitable return on its national resources and assets.
"I will also continue to press for domestic actions in industrialized nations to reduce gas emissions and prepare contingency plans for the worst case scenario."
That worse case scenario has been translated by previous governments of Tuvalu to mean mass evacuation to larger nations like Australia or New Zealand. But Talake is taking one step further though. He has hired a United States law firm to file legal action against the United States Government and most probably the Australian Government too, for their refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and thereby adhere to an international effort to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
Although Luka has described the proposed lawsuit as ridiculous and a manifestation of Talake's personal agenda, the latter is adamant that industrialized nations must be taken to task over the threat caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
"Luka is jealous of the courage and determination my government has shown by standing up to the might of our former colonial masters and industrialized countries," Talake says.
"He is also jealous because my government has managed to highlight to the world, the uncertain future Tuvalu faces as a result of global warming and sea level rise.
"Honourable Luka is selfish by being short-sighted. He does not consider the future of our children and grandchildren, in say 50 years' time."
Taking the United States to the International Court of Justice is not the only radical overture taken by Talake's administration. Confident he will secure his Vaitupu Island seat and return as prime minister, Talake says he will be in Suva this month for the Pacific Islands Forum summit to lobby island leaders for support for his planned legal action against the United States. He may want other Pacific islands nations to join Tuvalu to file a class lawsuit against industrialized nations that are refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
The silver-haired politician says he will also suggest a "Pacific Union" model like the European Union with a common currency.
"People may wonder what the Pacific Union possesses in terms of natural resources that would entice the international community to invest in the area of jurisdiction of the Pacific Union. The answer is clear. The Pacific Ocean is the largest mass of seawater under the sun where there are plenty of fish. Besides, there are plenty of mineral resources in the ocean beds."
Certainly, the man is rich with ideas. But whether this will endear him to his voters and to his country's 14 other parliamentarians, will be another matter. Going into the polls last month, Talake was hit with allegations about his close association with a Fijian politician and businessman, Jim Ah Koy.
His rivals claim the former Fiji finance minister was still on the payroll of Air Fiji, although Ah Koy had sold all his shares in the airline to the Tuvalu Government. Also last month came news of an attempt to woo the French to establish a satellite phone business in Funafuti.
But Tuvalu is tiny with only about 5000 registered voters. This together with the fact that the nation does not have party politics and with the absence of privately owned media outlets, Talake is hopeful the seven votes that enabled him to wrestle the job from Luka, a former prime minister and now his biggest rival, will remain intact when his country's legislature convenes this month to elect a leader.
